<big>Every city has its famous empty buildings, many with a long, storied history before becoming office ghost towns or the spooky house on the block.
With the flurry of work going on at the aging buildings in Magnuson Park, here's a look at Seattle's prominent and notorious empty buildings.</big> less

<big>Every city has its famous empty buildings, many with a long, storied history before becoming office ghost towns or the spooky house on the block.
With the flurry of work going on at the aging buildings ... more

Image 2 of 35

<b>Metropole Building</b>: Built in the late 19th century, this Pioneer Square landmark survived the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, only to be gutted more than a century later, in a 2007 trash can fire. It's since been boarded up. less

<b>Metropole Building</b>: Built in the late 19th century, this Pioneer Square landmark survived the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, only to be gutted more than a century later, in a 2007 trash can fire. It's ... more

Photo: Vanessa Ho / seattlepi.com

Image 3 of 35

Here's the Metropole when it was still occupied in the '90s. A sandstone trapezoid at Second and Yesler, it supposedly was the site for pioneer Henry Yesler's first office. The building was home for decades to G.O. Guy's Drugstore, and it's also <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2010/11/11/p-i-archive-the-story-of-two-corrupt-old-seattle-cops/">where a disgraced Seattle police chief was shot to death in 1901</a>. less

Here's the Metropole when it was still occupied in the '90s. A sandstone trapezoid at Second and Yesler, it supposedly was the site for pioneer Henry Yesler's first office. The building was home for decades to ... more

Photo: P-I file

Image 4 of 35

<b>Pacific Medical Center</b>: Seattle's famous hilltop orange tower is mostly vacant, after Amazon began moving out in recent years. The online retailer had been there since 1999 and occupied 13 floors.
An Art Deco, 16-story tower in Beacon Hill, Pacific Medical Center still houses the medical provider of the same name on two floors. less

<b>Pacific Medical Center</b>: Seattle's famous hilltop orange tower is mostly vacant, after Amazon began moving out in recent years. The online retailer had been there since 1999 and occupied 13 floors. ... more

Photo: Matthew Rutledge, Flickr

Image 5 of 35

Image 6 of 35

Pacific Medical Center opened in 1933 as a U.S. Marines hospital. It's pictured in 1953 with the 12th Avenue Bridge in Beacon Hill.

Pacific Medical Center opened in 1933 as a U.S. Marines hospital. It's pictured in 1953 with the 12th Avenue Bridge in Beacon Hill.

Photo: Seattle Post-Intelligencer collection / MOHAI

Image 7 of 35

The <b>'Up' house</b>: Elderly homeowner <b>Edith Macefield</b> became a hero in 2006, when she rejected a $1 million offer and refused to sell her tiny Ballard home to developers. The massive Ballard Blocks had to be built around her house, pictured in 2009. less

The <b>'Up' house</b>: Elderly homeowner <b>Edith Macefield</b> became a hero in 2006, when she rejected a $1 million offer and refused to sell her tiny Ballard home to developers. The massive Ballard Blocks ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 8 of 35

Macefield died in 2008 at age 86, as cranes and concrete towered above her house. It's now sometimes called the ''Up'' house, after the Disney movie about an old guy who refused to move for encroaching development. less

Macefield died in 2008 at age 86, as cranes and concrete towered above her house. It's now sometimes called the ''Up'' house, after the Disney movie about an old guy who refused to move for encroaching ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 9 of 35

This is what Macefield's house looks like today. A business partner of the current owner, Greg Pinneo, said they plan to turn it into a nightly rental house called ''Edith's House.'' less

This is what Macefield's house looks like today. A business partner of the current owner, Greg Pinneo, said they plan to turn it into a nightly rental house called ''Edith's ... more

Photo: Vanessa Ho / seattlepi.com

Image 10 of 35

Image 11 of 35

<b>Red Robin</b>: The country's first Red Robin opened in 1969 in this Eastlake building, at the south end of the University Bridge. It closed in 2010, when the building became too costly to maintain. less

<b>Red Robin</b>: The country's first Red Robin opened in 1969 in this Eastlake building, at the south end of the University Bridge. It closed in 2010, when the building became too costly to ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 12 of 35

This is what the old Red Robin building looks like today.

This is what the old Red Robin building looks like today.

Photo: Bing street view

Image 13 of 35

<b>Mercer Arena</b>: Built in 1927, this old events venue was home to Led Zeppelin and Springsteen shows, hockey games and Nirvana's last show in America. It's now a big dead spot, having been closed 10 years and in need of seismic work. The Seattle Opera has long had plans to move in. less

<b>Mercer Arena</b>: Built in 1927, this old events venue was home to Led Zeppelin and Springsteen shows, hockey games and Nirvana's last show in America. It's now a big dead spot, having been closed 10 years ... more

Photo: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons

Image 14 of 35

<b>Fort Lawton buildings</b>: Ever gotten lost in massive Discovery Park and ended up wandering around these spooky empty buildings? They're relics from when the park was Fort Lawton, an 1898 military outpost and embarkation port during World War II.
Pictured are the old band barracks, left, and 1902 guard house. Both have been empty for decades. less

<b>Fort Lawton buildings</b>: Ever gotten lost in massive Discovery Park and ended up wandering around these spooky empty buildings? They're relics from when the park was Fort Lawton, an 1898 military outpost ... more

Photo: City of Seattle

Image 15 of 35

Image 16 of 35

The same buildings - band barracks, left, and guard house - are pictured in 1916 during a U.S. Army drill in Fort Lawton. The city took over the fort in 1970. It's now Discovery Park.

The same buildings - band barracks, left, and guard house - are pictured in 1916 during a U.S. Army drill in Fort Lawton. The city took over the fort in 1970. It's now Discovery Park.

Image 17 of 35

<b>Italia Motel</b>: Pink, vacant and troubled describe this former Aurora Avenue North motel in Fremont. It was declared a chronic nuisance and shut down, with plans for it to become low-income housing or emergency shelter. That was in 2010, and the building is still empty. And pink. less

<b>Italia Motel</b>: Pink, vacant and troubled describe this former Aurora Avenue North motel in Fremont. It was declared a chronic nuisance and shut down, with plans for it to become low-income housing or ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 18 of 35

Why pink? It's the signature color of a group called Seattle Grrrl Army, which tagged the building in support of sex workers. The Italia was once a den of prostitution and drugs.

Why pink? It's the signature color of a group called Seattle Grrrl Army, which tagged the building in support of sex workers. The Italia was once a den of prostitution and drugs.

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 19 of 35

Here's the Italia Motel in 2008, when it was in business and brown.

Here's the Italia Motel in 2008, when it was in business and brown.

Photo: King County Department of Assessments

Image 20 of 35

Image 21 of 35

Speaking of graffiti, if you can guess where this wall is, you probably know that it changes all the time.

Speaking of graffiti, if you can guess where this wall is, you probably know that it changes all the time.

Photo: Amy Rolph

Image 22 of 35

<b>Tubs building</b>: The graffiti is part of the notorious ''free wall'' that is the former hot tub rental-by-the hour place in the U District.

<b>Tubs building</b>: The graffiti is part of the notorious ''free wall'' that is the former hot tub rental-by-the hour place in the U District.

Photo: Vanessa Ho / seattlepi.com

Image 23 of 35

The property owner of the Tubs building once had plans to demolish it for a new building. But he
lost financing and decided to leave the empty building up for taggers. It's since become a notorious graffiti landmark. Read more <a href=''http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/City-can-t-clean-up-notorious-graffiti-hub-882277.php''>here</a>. less

The property owner of the Tubs building once had plans to demolish it for a new building. But he
lost financing and decided to leave the empty building up for taggers. It's since become a notorious graffiti ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 24 of 35

<b>Seattle Post-Intelligencer building</b>: The landmark globe still sits atop the building that once housed a daily newspaper staff. But the waterfront building is now mostly empty, after the printed edition shut down, and the next big tenant, Dendreon, moved out. It's also no longer called the P-I building. less

<b>Seattle Post-Intelligencer building</b>: The landmark globe still sits atop the building that once housed a daily newspaper staff. But the waterfront building is now mostly empty, after the printed edition ... more

Photo: P-I file

Image 25 of 35

Image 26 of 35

The P-I globe became a Seattle landmark in 2012 and was donated to MOHAI, now tasked with finding a new home for it. The building beneath it is now called ''101 Elliott.''

The P-I globe became a Seattle landmark in 2012 and was donated to MOHAI, now tasked with finding a new home for it. The building beneath it is now called ''101 Elliott.''

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / seattlepi.com

Image 27 of 35

<b>''Building 2,'' Magnuson Park</b>: Got $27 million? This mostly empty, cavernous former aircraft hangar needs that much renovation to become fit for use. It's a leftover from when the 350-acre park was a naval air station from the 1920s to 1970s. The hangar, which used to house Arena Sports, will soon get a new roof and be ready for a buyer.
Building 2 is part of a bunch of old buildings seeking new life at Magnuson - some are being mothballed, while others, like Building 30, are getting a big makeover. Read more <a href=''http://www.seattle.gov/parks/magnuson/''>here</a>. less

<b>''Building 2,'' Magnuson Park</b>: Got $27 million? This mostly empty, cavernous former aircraft hangar needs that much renovation to become fit for use. It's a leftover from when the 350-acre park was a ... more

Photo: City of Seattle

Image 28 of 35

<b>Sand Point Naval Air Station barracks</b>: This long stretch of empty buildings on Sand Point Way were built in the '20s and '30s as barracks when Magnuson Park was a naval air station.
A plan to convert them to market-rate housing was scrapped a few years ago. They've since become a favorite target of metal thieves, who've ripped out much of the plumbing and electrical systems. less

<b>Sand Point Naval Air Station barracks</b>: This long stretch of empty buildings on Sand Point Way were built in the '20s and '30s as barracks when Magnuson Park was a naval air station.
A plan to ... more

Image 29 of 35

<b>''Occupy Seattle'' house</b>: This vacant Central District house across from Garfield High School became the home of ''Occupy'' squatters and taggers in 2012. Then King County Sheriff's deputies and a SWAT team kicked them out. less

<b>''Occupy Seattle'' house</b>: This vacant Central District house across from Garfield High School became the home of ''Occupy'' squatters and taggers in 2012. Then King County Sheriff's deputies and a SWAT ... more

Photo: King County Sherriff\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Office

Image 30 of 35

Image 31 of 35

The Occupy house is still empty and looks like this now, except more tomb-like with no windows and more boards.

The Occupy house is still empty and looks like this now, except more tomb-like with no windows and more boards.

Photo: Google Street View

Image 32 of 35

<b>The Twilight Exit building</b>: The Central District once bustled with jazz clubs that hosted Quincy Jones and Ray Charles. But it suffers from much blight now, particularly on Madison Street and at this corner of 22nd Avenue that was the Twilight Exit bar's old location.
Plans for a new mixed-use building here kicked up hopes in the neighborhood a few years ago. But those plans have long gone quiet. less

<b>The Twilight Exit building</b>: The Central District once bustled with jazz clubs that hosted Quincy Jones and Ray Charles. But it suffers from much blight now, particularly on Madison Street and at this ... more

Photo: Google Street View

Image 33 of 35

<b>King Cat Theater</b>: Pearl Jam and Nirvana played in this South Lake Union theater, which also played movies in the '70s. It closed in 2012. Next up: Amazon's tall towers.

<b>King Cat Theater</b>: Pearl Jam and Nirvana played in this South Lake Union theater, which also played movies in the '70s. It closed in 2012. Next up: Amazon's tall towers.

Photo: Google Street View

Image 34 of 35

The King Cat Theater used to be the King Cinema, pictured here in 1973.

The King Cat Theater used to be the King Cinema, pictured here in 1973.